The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 272

liberty. Pnul cared not a whit for idol fen.sts and sacrifices, and, had he consi<lered only himself, he would have eaten meat that had been presented i11 an idol-temple; but he cared for his brethren, and he cared for them all the more if their knowled"'e was slight, their faith feeble, their apprehen~ions of spiritual realities obscure. He would not break the bruised reed; he would rather abstain than injure a brother's conscience, It was a grand view of Christian duty tliis which Paul took; ?. noble resolution this which Paul formed. A lesson to the whole Church of God in all the various phases of experience and trial through which it is called to pass. Let Christians think first, indeed, of their own position in the sight or the heart-searching God. But let them not omit to think of their relation to their brethren in Christ, and let them so act that none may be troubleJ in conscience or caused to. fall by reason of any want of consideration and sympathy, by reason of any disposition to push liberty to too great an extreme. God is our Lord; yet his people, however feeble, are our brethren. Their interests are dear to our hearts, and our intercourse with them is to be guided not only by wisdom but by charity.-'!'. Ver. 11.-The brother's claim. It seems as though Paul treated of this case of conscience at inordinate length. Perhaps this would be so were it not that, in dis- posing of this difficulty, the apostle was really disposing of many other dilfaulties which should emerge in the course of the centuries. Principles are laid down in this "casuistical" portion of the Epistle which arc applicable to Christian conduct in varying states of society and throughout all time. l. 'l'HE DANGER TO CHRISTIAN BRETHREN OF THE UNRESTRAL.~D INDULGENCE OF LIBERTY. Let a Christian man consider only what will commend him to God, what is in accordance with his right and liberty; and what will be the result? This passage makes this very evident, showing that for an enli);htened Christian to partake of food offered to idols may prove prejudicial to weak brethren, who take such conduct as a sanction of idol-worship and of idolatrous practices generally. No doubt this is a misconceptioa, but it is a misconception which is likely, which is certaia, to happen. Thus the mau of weak conscience, of little enlightenment, has his nature defiled aad hardened, and, according to the very strong expression of this verse, is in danger of perishing. An awful, unforeseen, consequence to follow upon the indulgeace in Christian liberty. 'l'he possibility of such a consequence is in itself sufficient to mah a liberal Christian pause lest he should carry his liberty too far. II. 'l'HE GREAT CHRISTIAN MOTIVE WHICH RESTRAINS THE EXERCISF. OF LIDERTY. The apostle calls upon the ealightened Corinthians to consider who lie is whose welfare and salvation are endangered by the course si1pposeu. 1. He is a brother. ·who will say, "Am I my brother's keeper?" On the contrary, the spiritual bond thnt unites the people of Christ one to another is so closo and precious that auything that threatens its permanence should be regarded with suspicion and drea,1. 2. Nut only so; he is one for whom Ghrist died. Observe the contrast which is so powerfully presented in this languago. 'l'he Lord of glory died to ransom and to save e:i.ch disciple and friend of his; submitted for his sake, not to inconvenieuco and reslraiat, but to sufferings, to the cross, to the grave. Aad shall any follower of the Lord Jesus treat with contempt even the weakness and prejudice of one whom the Lord of glory so pitied that he g:we up his own life to save? Who are we th:i.t we should act .in a mauner so contrary to the action of our Divine Lord nnd Leader? Let him be our Example, as in other things, so in this; let his self-sacrifice be our mo,lel and motive, that with a sympathizing and alfoctil,nate dispositiuu we hold dear the security and well-being of every Christian brother, however ignorant and howevct· feeble. So far from assisting in the ruin, be it ours to promote the salvation of every member of the spiritual family, every sheep, every weak and helpless lamb, of the vast flock of that good Shephenl who laid down his life for his shecp.-'l'. Ver. 12.-" Sin against Ghrist." It is a proof of the personal and intimate character or the relation between Christ and his people, as that relation was conceived in tho primitive Churches, that it should be the very climax of reproach against any professed Christians because of any course of action they followed, to charge them with sin against Christ. It is surely obvious that language like this could not be used of any l, COnINTITIA NS, T  2,1 THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. [cH. vm.1-13.